Holidays are in full swing. Besides housework, it’s full of blessings, gifts, guests, and delicious food.
Eating more means gaining weight, right? But who cares about it when there’s savory turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and decadent pumpkin pie on the table?
It’s easy to overindulge, and stretchy pants become our best friends. For some of us, feeling stylish and confident at overcrowded parties, family gatherings, or posing for photos can get overwhelming.
But… there’s no need to fret—we’ve got practical tips on how to hide holiday weight gain with style so you won’t regret that extra slice of pie…
Contents
Understanding holiday weight gain
Weight gain is typical around Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Most people gain about 1-2 pounds over that time. Eating habits and exercise influence this number.
There’s a lot behind this weight gain:
- Overeating: Social pressure and more food availability can lead to overeating
- Emotional eating: Some people overeat to cope with stress, anxiety, and emotional triggers
- Poor food choices: High-sugar, high-calorie, and high-fat foods fill the holiday table a lot
- Lack of sleep: Stress and disturbed sleep can affect hunger hormones
- Decreased physical activity: Busy schedules, cold weather, and holiday obligations can mess with your routine
- Stress: Giving gifts, socializing, and meeting expectations can stress you out
- Social eating habits: During holiday functions, food-centered traditions and distractions encourage mindless eating and difficulty resisting temptations.
It’s easy to lose track of our healthy habits as we attend festive parties, gatherings, and family meals. And it’s totally okay!
Now that we know how the holidays can affect weight gain, let’s get to the tips.
Style Tips to Conceal Holiday Weight Gain
1. Choose fabrics that work
Mid-weight fabrics are ideal since they drape well without clinging to the body. The slimming effect they’ll give will distract from any extra pounds.
What to choose:
- Heavy and thick fabrics like wool, velvet, or corduroy
- Stretchy fabrics like spandex or jersey are comfy and flexible
- Dark colors and patterns will create a slimming effect
What to avoid:
- Thin and sheer fabrics that hug the body
- Bulky materials like puffy coats and thick sweaters
- Overly ruffled fabrics draw attention to areas you may be self-conscious about
2. Invest in good underwear
A confident look starts from within – literally! Proper undergarments will create a smooth, seamless silhouette under your holiday outfit, minimizing any visible lines. Pick a breathable fabric, like cotton.
Make sure your undergarments are not too loose or tight—so you feel comfy all day, improve your posture, and feel less irritated.
3. Embrace dresses
Dresses are perfect for hiding holiday weight gain. They’re incredibly comfy, especially if you pick a flowy or stretchy fabric. It’s just one piece of clothing and you’re good to go with some accessories and shoes.
A-line, empire-waist, wrap and maxi dresses are great options. These styles skim over the body, so there will be no muffin tops or digging waistbands. And, they’re comfortable too!
4. Wear fitted tops
Choose well-fitting styles that create clean lines rather than oversized pieces that can appear frumpy. Peplum tops and tunics with V-neck and scoop necklines look great.
Also, pick tops with unique design details like ruching, faux wraps, or asymmetrical details–aside from adding visual appeal, they cleverly camouflage the midsection from holiday indulgences too.
5. Try high-waisted bottoms
High-rise jeans and trousers create a slimming effect. They sit higher on the waist and offer gentle compression that smooths out the midsection. A great way to deal with holiday weight gain.
Choose wide-leg styles since they soften the lines of the hips and thighs to look more proportionate. They don’t cling to your legs, making them ideal for everyday wear, especially around the holidays.
6. Use color strategically
Monochromatic outfits are an ideal choice to create a lengthening effect on the body. Dark colors like black, maroon, deep green and navy blue are a timeless trick for creating a slimming effect.
Color blocking works when used strategically. Wear darker shades on the areas you want to conceal, like the midsection, while using brighter colors on areas you want to pop, like the neckline or sleeves.
Bright accessories play up dark outfits without drawing attention to flaws. Wear bright-colored scarves, bags, or statement jewelry.
7. Layer wisely
Layering can help you create a more defined silhouette and add to your overall look. Cardigans or structured jackets add dimension while covering up.
Try a shorter jacket that hits just above the hip. This style is particularly attractive for hourglass figures, as it breaks up the midsection and hides any unwanted bulges. Plus, it brings attention upward to your bust and shoulders.
8. Accessorize intelligently
Bold necklaces, hair clips, colorful scarves, or hats effortlessly pull the focus to your upper body.
Accessorizing revolves around proportion. Oversized pieces can overwhelm your frame, making you appear even larger. On the other hand, dainty accessories can get lost on a curvier figure. A balanced look comes from accessories that fit your frame.
9. Stick with small patterns
Small, delicate prints or vertical strips can dramatically elongate and slim your figure.
At the same time, steer clear of bold prints or large patterns like big florals or bold geometrics, as they can overwhelm the figure. These patterns are visually bulky and make your body look bigger.
10. Cinch it up with a belt
Belts break up the midsection and define your top and bottom halves, perfectly hiding the holiday weight gain.
A wide leather belt or a statement buckle is good to cover up any extra padding. Belt over cardigans or jackets for a leaner, longer look. You can belt over dresses or skirts, too, for a graceful feminine figure.
11. Wear the right footwear
Overly chunky shoes can certainly add visible weight to the legs, making them appear shorter and thicker. To maintain the lengthening effect, go for sleeker shoes. Heels and pointed-toe flats work best here.
If you’re not a fan of high heels, a lower profile or block heel will still look cute while using less of your energy. As for a more casual approach, neutral-colored slip-on sneakers, loafers, or ballet flats go perfectly.
12. Make your clothes fit you
Finding a good tailor makes all the difference. A professional can alter your clothes to fit your body snugly, show off your shape, and hide any problem areas.
- Tailor your pants for a more free-flowing fit around the hips and thighs. Taper the legs for a slender effect.
- Too fitted dresses can be altered into A-lines. This will give you more room and balance around your waist and hips.
- For tops and dresses that don’t fit right around the waist, add a custom waistband to slim it up.
- If you have shorter tops that tend to ride up, consider having them tailored to a longer length
- Invest in versatile pieces that are easy to tailor, like shift dresses, fitted blouses, or blazers. By altering these staples, you can stay fashionable while accommodating changes to your body shape.
13. Confidence is everything
Following a few weeks of indulging in festive treats, it’s easy to slip into negative self-talk and body shaming. But trust us: It’s time to shift that mindset.
Instead of beating yourself up for a few extra pounds, take it easy and:
- Stand tall with your shoulders back and chin up
- Prioritize the fit of your clothes over the size on the label
- Wear accessories that make you feel empowered
- Smile genuinely
- Focus on yourself and let go of negative comparisons
- Take a moment to honor the parts of yourself that you love
As you embrace your post-holiday body and flaunt confidence, you’ll be surprised at how little anyone notices those extra pounds.
Bottom line
The post-holiday blues are real, and so are the extra pounds we often gain during the festive season. But guess what: it’s totally normal!
And with a few simple style tweaks, you can confidently rock your favorite outfits while working on getting back to your pre-holiday self.
After all, fashion is more about feeling good in what you’re wearing, not just looking good.
So let yourself indulge (a little), and use these style tips to hide holiday weight gain and hold you over until you’re ready to tone up again.
Let’s move on to you! Share your own personal style tips, favorite fashion hacks, or personal experience with managing holiday weight gain through fashion in the comments below! Share this article with someone who needs it!
